Safety mattress



5 F. c. HOLTON ,81 ,5

SAFETY MATTRESS Filed Nov. 29, 195.4

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l N VEN TOR WWACQSCIA QLWM ATTORNEY Dec. 10, 1957 F. c.HOLTON 2,815,516

SAFETY MATTRESS Filed NOV. 29, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent SAFETY MATTRESS Francis C; Holton, Winnipeg, Manitoba,Canada Application November 29, 1954, Serial No. 471,845 12 Claims. (Cl.5'-345) This invention relates to new and useful improvements inmattress structures and more particularly to suspensiontype mattressesformed of a base element upon which is supported a weight receivingmember formed of flexible porous web material which is supported intension across a frame element.

It has, heretofore, been suggested that many advantages can be achievedby replacing conventional mattr'esses', including those Covered witheither porous or non-porous materials, with a receiving member on whichthe users body reposes formed of porous web material which is supportedin tension with an air space located beneath the porous material. Theuse of suspended porous web mattresses eliminates the possibility ofinfants and young children suffocating when sleeping face downward onthe suspended porous web material and also serves to eliminate ormaterially reduce infant respiratory disorders, brain injuries and thelike resulting from restricted breathing. In addition, such structureprevents the formation of pools of undesired liquids such as bodyexpelled fluids, milk or other fluid leakage from a babys bottle, andthe like, which may cause the infant or child to choke or becomeasphyxiated. Further, suspended porous web mattresses permit the infantsor childs pores to breathe and enhances air circulation around the bodyto eliminate unevenness of body temperature and the build up of moisturefrom perspiration and condensation which occur when conventionalmattresses are used, particularly those formed with plastic or otherwaterproof type coverings. Suspended porous web mattresses arefrequently prescribed by medical authorities for use by older childrenand adults suifering from ailments, the treatment of which necessitatescontinual and (efficient drainage of body discharges, maintenance ofeven body temperature and a body and head receiving surface of selectedrigidity.

In addition to the above advantages, suspended porous web mattresses maybe formed with base members positioned beneath the suspended web havingexposed surfaces which can readily be cleaned and disinfected. Also thebody and head receiving porous web material may be laundered and thusthe mattress structure can be maintained in a sanitary condition withbut a small part of the efiort required to clean and decontaminate aconventional filled mattress.

While the advantages of the aforementioned mattresses have heretoforebeen understood, at least to a partial extent, attempts to providesatisfactory mattress structures to achieve such results have failed dueto the difliculties encountered in the removal and re-assembly of theporous Web material in respectto the frame when it was necessary tolaunder the material and due, in part, to the fact that large andcomplicated suspension systems were necessitated even for infantsmattresses. For older children and adults much larger suspensionstructures were found necessary, and as "a result all known a't'teinpt'sto commercialiie such mattresses of poi-611s suspended ma- 2,815,516Patented Dec. 10, 1957 terial failed irrespective of the advantages tobe received therefrom.

My co-pending application Serial No. 297,427, filed July 7, 1952, nowPatent No. 2,695,415, of which this application is acontinuation-in-part, discloses a mattress structure which achieves inpart the above-discussed adf vantages since it includes a relativelythin porous head supporting section positioned in the plane of the uppersurface of the body supporting section, which latter section comprises aconventional filled mattress. Such mattress structure as described in myco-pending application provides the above-recited advantages insofar asthe head and shoulders of a child utilizing the mattress are concerned,but fails to provide these advantages throughout the entire length andwidth of the mattress in view of the fact that conventional filledmattress structure is em ployed in the body supporting section.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedmattress structure wherein the receiving portions for both the usersbody and head are formed of relatively thin porous flexible web materialwhich is suspended by simplified structure on a frame member supportedby a base member and serves to receive and to support in co-operationwith said base member the entire weight of the users combined head andbody.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mattressstructure formed by a base member to which upstanding cushion-typespacers are connected, on the upper surface of which a frame issupported which has a body and head receiving and supporting web ofporous materialremovably suspended in tension on a frame ther'ebetween.

Another objectof the invention is to provide an inrproved mattressstructure which comprises in combination a suspended body and headreceiving portion formed of a relatively thin porous and flexible webmaterial and a co-operating auxiliary supporting element for the nsersbody which, preferably, is fixed to or forms a part of the base of themattress.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sim-' plified structurefor maintaining the combined body and head receiving porous web materialin tension and suspended in spaced relation above the base of themattress and the auxiliary body supporting element.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved mattressstructure comprising a suspended combined body and head receivingportion and an auxiliary supporting element which is positioned toco-operate with and to receive a portion of the users weight which istransferred from the suspended Web due to the downward flexure thereofresulting from the mattress users weight.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved and combinedbody and head receiving flexible, porous web which may be easily andquickly secured to and removed from a co-operating frame element.

Another object of the invention is to provide an intprovedbase memberfor supporting in suspended relation a flexible, porous web materialstretched across a frame member, which base member is of symmetricalconfiguration and can be used with either side of the memberfac ingtoward the suspended web material.

Another object of the invention is to provide an irn proved base memberfor supporting in suspended relation a tensional web member, which baseis formed of resiliant material having a flat surface on one facethereof whereby upon inverting the base to position the fiat surface inan upward position, a conventional bed mattr'ess surface is provided.

Another object of theinvention is toprovide a mattress base for 'a'suspended porousweb including cushioned spacers which form a partthereof, which are provided with waterproof surfaces located in facingrelation to the Suspended web of the combined body and head receivingmaterial; I

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedsuspension-type mattress comprising a base element, cushion-type spacermembers by which a flexible porous web is suspended in tension above abase member and an auxiliary body supporting member projecting above theupper surface which may be fabricated in a range of sizes from an infantbasket size to a standard bed size by simple operations in order toprovide a durable mattress structure.

The invention also resides in certain novel structural characteristicsand features which facilitate the carrying out of the foregoing objectsand which contribute both to the simplicity of the improved mattressstructure and to its sanitary maintenance and to the safety featuresthereof. 1' I With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objectsand advantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art towhich this invention relates as this specification proceeds, myinvention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction ofparts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is an exploded perspective view of one form of my improvedmattress structure. Figure 2 is a section taken across the central partof Figure 1 with the frame and porous web shown in full lines inassembled relation with respect to the base element, andin addition, thepositions tended to be assumed by these elements when a load is appliedin the direction indicated by the arrow are shown in dotted lines.

Figures 3 and 4 are cross sectional means of modified embodiments of thebase members of my improved mattress structure.

4 Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, are plan views of base members disclosingmodified configurations of auxiliary body supporting elements, whichproject above the base member in the direction of the tensioned porousweb member.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail the preferred embodiments. It will be understood,however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosuresfor I aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructionsfalling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in theappended claims.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

Reference is made to Figures 1 and 2 wherein reference numeral 10indicates receiving member for the users body and head which member isformed of relatively thin flexible porous web material, indicates agenerally rectangular frame member formed of rigid material across theinternal opening of which the web material extends n a tensionedcondition. Reference numeral 30 generally indicates a mattress basemember having a generally rectangular configuration which is providedwith spaced apart upstanding spacer elements 40 and 50 which are locatedat opposite sides thereof and which serve to support the assembled framemember 20 and stretched web material 10 between the spacer elements aspaced distance above the upper surface 32 of the base member. Spacerelements 40 and 50 may be physically formed integral with or separatelyof base member 30. If formed: separately, additional means (not shown)are requird -tatasten the spacers in position relative to the baseineniher and for this reason it is preferable to form the seam ess base,Y

a unitary member as is best shown inFigures l, to 4- inclusive. Theremaining element of myimprovedmattress structure combination is anauxiliary supporting element 60 for the users body whiohrelement isformed of resilient material and extends or projects above the uppersurface 32 of base member 30 and terminates a distance beneath the lowersurface of the tensioned porous web 10 as is best shown in Figures 2, 3and 4.

In more particularity, member 10 which receives the entire weight of theuser, including both body and head, is formed of relatively thin,flexible, porous web material exemplified by textile material which iswoven of either absorptive or non-absorptive flexible filaments with theopenings or interstices between the woof and warp filaments formedsufficiently large to permit liquid flow therethrough. The size andstrength of the filaments are dependent upon the span of frame 20 uponwhich the porous web is suspended with the filaments in tension.However, it is desirable that the size and strength of the filaments beselected so that the web material which extends across the span of theframe will be slightly deformed or stretched by the weight of themattress user in order to bring a portion of the users weight to bearupon the auxiliary body supporting element 60 which is positionedcentrally beneath the suspended web material.

It will be apparent that the tensioned receiving member for the usersbody and head may be formed of one or more layers of porous material.The construction disclosed in Figures 1 to 4 employs double layers, i.e. an upper and a lower layer of material, but this number may beincreased or decreased depending upon the loading and span of the web.If the porous web is made of fluid absorptive elements, a relative smallportion of liquid may be absorbed as the liquid passes through the webwithout injury to the mattress user and without destroying theadvantages of the structure. If non-absorptive filaments are used, allof the liquid will flow by gravity through the web material and onto thereceiving surface therebelow from which it may be removed.

Frame member 20 is preferably formed of rigid metallic wire which issuitably coated to prevent oxidation and to prevent discoloration of theporous fabric in contact therewith. The stiif wire is preferably formedinto a closed loop of generally rectangular form with the cornerssuitably rounded. Preferably the porous flexible fabric 10 is formed bya line of stitching 12 passing through a binding strip 14 into anopen-ended bag or envelope which is slipped over frame 20 withsufiicient stretching of the material to place it in tension cross-wiseof the frame as indicated by the X-X arrow of Figure 1. In order tostress the porous web material in direction of the elongated axis,tie-strips 16 are secured at their inner ends interiorly of the open endof the bag or envelope adjacent to hem line 18. After frame member 20 isinserted in place in the envelope, the outer ends of tie-strips 16 aretied over and around the frame member to place the porous web undertension in a direction parallel to the Y--Y arrow shown in Figure 1. Bythis construction, the porous and flexible web which receives the bodyand head of the mattress user is formed of double thickness materialmaintained in a stressed condition both cross-wise and lengthwise of thematerial.

The mattress base member 30 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2is formed by an upper covering member 22 and a lower covering member 24and edge panels 26 and 28. The covering members and panels are securedtogether by stitching to provide spacer elements 40 and 50 at oppositesides of the base member. Binding strips indicated generally byreference numeral 48 are positioned over the secured and end edges. Thespacer elements 40 and 50 which are shown in Figures 1 and 2 f ashaving-a generally square configuration and a flat upper urface, arefilled with a batting material such, for example, as closely packedcellulose fibers or other similar flexible and resilient packingmaterial which can withstand repeated compressional loadings.

The coverings 2,2 and 24 and edge panels 26 and 28 are preferably formedof textile material which has been treated with a waterproofing agentor, even more deals able, these parts may be formed by waterproofsheeted plastic material which'may -readily be cleaned and sterilizedwith well known detergents and sanitizingagents.

The end portions 34 of base member 30 contain no packing or fillingmaterial intermediate the covering members 22 and 24. The auxiliarysupporting element or portion 60 is formed by inserting packing orfilling material of the aforedescribed characteristics between the upperand lower covering members and intermediate lines of stitching 62 and64. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the auxiliary body supporting element64 has a generally rectangular formation and the upper surface 66thereof projects above the plane of the upper surface of end portions 34of base member 30 in the direction of the flexible, porous, tensionedmember 10. However, when the mattress is assembled a space existsbetween the tensioned porous web and the surface 66 of the auxiliarybody supporting element as is clearly shown in Figure 2 of the drawings.

When the body of the mattress user is positioned upon the upper surfaceof the flexible, porous and tensioned web member 10, shown in Figure 2,a force directed downwardly as indicated by arrow 68 is applied to themattress structure. The applied force causes the filaments of the web tostretch and flex at the points of greatest applied force in the mannerindicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 to cause the receiving memberto contact and push downwardly upon the auxiliary supporting element 60by which action a part of the mattress users weight is transferred toand borne by the auxiliary element 60. Due to the resilientcharacteristic of spacer elements 40 and 50, they are slightlycompressed in a manner to facilitate the positioning of members 10 and60 as above discussed.

The provision of dividing the applied load and supporting a portionthereof on the auxiliary supporting element 60 located beneath thesuspended member, enables supporting elements and base members ofpractical size to be used for which reason safety mattresses of thisinvention dimensioned to fit within a babys basket may readily befabricated at reasonable cost as well as those dimensionecl to be usedby older children and adults in junior size or full size beds.

As the person reclining on my improved mattress moves about, differentportions of the porous web contact the auxiliary supporting element and,consequently, air in the space beneath the porous member is enabled toreach the various lower body surfaces through the porous material.

The auxiliary supporting element positioned beneath the stretched porousweb may be provided with different configurations as best shown inFigures 5 to 8, inclusive, wherein rectangular, circular and ovaloidshapes are disclosed. Further, the upper surface 66 of the auxiliarysupporting element 6% may be provided with a relatively flat contour asshown in Figures 1 and 2, or it may be provided with a generally convexformation as indicated by reference numeral 70 in Figure 4 and thisgenerally convex or dome shape may be utilized on the above-discussedrectangular, round and ovaloid elements of Figures 5 to 8 inclusive. Itwill be apparent from an examination of the figures that thecross-sectional dimensions of the auxiliary supporting element takenalong the base thereof are greater than the height of the element abovethe upper surface of the base member.

The base member of Figures 1, 2, 5 and 6 is provided with asymmetrically shaped upper and lower surface and accordingly, may bereversed in use when one side thereof becomes discolored from stains orthe like.

'The modified base member 30 shown in Figure 3 is generally similar tobase member 30 in construction except that it is provided with a flatlower surface 82 and a stiffened member 84 which is positioned betweenand connects spacer elements 40 and 50. Any of the previously describedauxiliary body supporting elements may be utilized with this form ofbase member which is not reversible since it does not have a symmetricalcross-sectional shape. V

The modified base member shown in Figures 4, 7 and 8 is preferablyformed as a single unit from foam rubber. It has been found that foamrubber of the closed cell type is preferable and when using thismaterial base member 90 may readily be molded or cast into a rectangularform with the body supporting element 60 molded as an integral partthereof. The outside surfaces of base member 94 are formed with a skinduring the molding process which formation serves to close the surfacevoids and results in smooth continuous base surfaces. In this embodimentthe upwardly directed spacer elements or walls 92 and 94 are located atthe ends of the mattress base and are provided in addition to thepreviously described spacer elements or walls which were described asbeing located at the sides of the base. The upper surfaces of both theside and end upwardly directed spacer elements of this embodiment areprovided with a ledge 96 formed by a wall 98 upon which rests the framemember and tensioned porous web.

The base member 90 shown in Figures 4, 7 and 8 is well suited for theconstruction of the larger sizes of mattresses since the base may bedimensioned in a similar manner to conventional foam rubber mattressesand, in addition, the base has a dual use in that it may be turnedupside down and the smooth bottom surface 99 thereof utilized to receivethe body of the mattress user in the manner of conventional foam rubbermattresses.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in theaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a mattress, the combination comprising a receiving member for thebody and head of a person using the mattress which member is formed of arelative thin, flexible, porous web material, a frame member formed ofrigid material across the opening of which said receiving member extendsin a tensioned condition, a base member having an upper surface,upstanding spacer elements positioned at opposite sides of said basemember, upon which said frame member rests to position the tensionedbody and head receiving member above the base member, and an auxiliarysupporting element formed of resilient material projecting above theupper surface of the central portion of said base member and terminatinga spaced distance from said receiving member.

2. A mattress structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the auxiliarysupporting element is formed with a rectangular configuration.

3. A mattress structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the auxiliarysupporting element is formed with a round configuration.

4. A mattress structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the auxiliarysupporting element is formed with an ovaloid configuration.

5. A mattress structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the auxiliarysupporting element is formed with a lower portion having a greatercross-sectioned dimension than the height of the element.

6. In a mattress, the combination comprising a receiving member for thebody and head of a person using the mattress, which member is formed ofa relative thin, flexible, porous web material, a frame member formed ofrigid material across the opening of which said receiving member extendsin a tensioned condition, a base member having an upper surface,upstanding spacer elements positioned at opposite sides of said basemember, upon which said frame member rests to position the tensionedbody and head receiving member 7 above the base member, and an auxiliarysupporting element formed of resilient material projecting with a convexshape above the upper surface of the central portion of said base memberand terminating a spaced distance from said receiving member.

7. In a mattress, the combination comprising a receiving member for thebody and head of a person using the mattress, which member is formed ofa relative thin, flexible, porous web material, a frame member formed ofrigid material across the opening of which said receiving member extendsin a tensioned condition, a base member having a waterproof uppersurface, upwardly directed spacer elements formed integral with saidbase member and positioned at opposite sides thereof, upon which saidframe member is supported to position the tensioned body and headreceiving member above the base member, and an auxiliary supportingelement formed integral with said base member and comprising resilientmaterial which projects above the upper surface of the central portionof said base member and terminates a spaced distance from said receivingmember.

8. In a mattress, the combination comprising a receiving member for thebody and head of a person using the mattress, which member is formed ofa relative thin, flexible, porous web material, a frame member formed ofrigid material across the opening of which said receiving member extendsin a tensioned condition, a base member formed of upper and lowercoverings composed of flexible waterproof material, upstanding spacerelements filled with resilient packing material positioned at oppositesides of said base member, upon which said frame member is supported toposition the tensioned body and head receiving member above the basemember, and an auxiliary supporting element formed of packing materialbetween said coverings, which element projects above the upper surfaceof the central portion of said base member and terminates a spaceddistance from said receiving member.

9. In a mattress, the combination comprising a receiving member for thebody and head of a person using the mattress, which member is formed ofa plurality of layers of a relative thin, flexible, porous textilematerial, a frame member formed of wire shaped in closed-loopconfiguration across the opening of which said layers extend in atensioned condition, a base member having an upper surface formed ofplastic material, upwardly directed spacer elements formed of cushioningmaterial positioned at opposite sides of said base member, upon whichsaid frame member is supported to position the tensioned layers oftextile material above the upper surface base member, and an auxiliarysupporting element formed of resilient material projecting above theupper surface of the central portion of said base member and terminatinga spaced distance from the lower surface of said textile layers.

10. In a mattress, the combination comprising a receiving member for thebody and head of a person using the mattress, which member is formed ofa relative thin, flexible, porous web material, a frame member formed ofrigid material across the opening of which said receiving member extendsin a tensioned condition, a base member having a relative fiat bottomand a waterproof upper surface, upwardly directed spacer elementsforming a part of and positioned at opposite sides of said base member,upon which said frame member is supported to position the tensioned bodyand head receiving member above the base member, and an auxiliary bodysupporting element formed of resilient material projecting above theupper surface of the central portion of said base member and terminatinga spaced distance from said receiving member.

11. In a mattress, the combination comprising a receiving member for thebody and head of a person using the mattress, which member is formed ofa relative thin, flexible, porous textile material, a frame memberformed of rigid material across the opening of which said textilematerial extends in a tensioned condition, a rectangular base memberformed of resilient material having an upper surface and upwardlydirected wall elements positioned at the sides of said base member, uponwhich Wall elements said frame member is supported to position thetensioned body and head receiving member above the upper surface of thebase member, and an auxiliary supporting element formed integrally withsaid base member and projecting above the upper surface of the centralportion of said base member and terminating a spaced distance from saidreceiving member.

12. In a mattress, the combination comprising a receiving member for thebody and head of a person using the mattress which member is formed of arelative thin, flexible, porous textile material, a frame member formedof rigid material across the opening of which said textile materialextends in a tensioned condition, a rectangular base member molded offoam rubber having an upper surface, and upwardly directed wall elementspositioned at the sides of base member, upon the top of which wallelements said frame member rests upon a ledge to position the tensionedbody and head receiving member above the upper surface of the basemember, and an auxiliary supporting element formed integrally with saidbase member and projecting above the upper surface of the centralportion of said base member and terminating a spaced distance from saidreceiving member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,736,341 Eiser Nov. 19, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS 200,620 Switzerland Apr.17, 1939 407,630 Great Britain Mar. 22, 1934

